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Do Clinicians Consider the Results of Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae Urinary Antigen to Adapt Antibiotic Regimen in Pneumonia Patients?
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009 Oct 20;
Authors: Matta M, Kernéis S, Day N, Lescat M, Hoi AB, Varon E, Gutmann L, Mainardi JL
Abstract Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen (ICT) is a rapid and reliable method to identify a pneumococcal aetiology of pneumonia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of clinicians in their everyday practice towards prescription of ICT and the impact of its results on the adaptation of the antibiotic therapy, when suspecting a pneumonia. From October 2007 to March 2008, we prospectively evaluated 541 consecutive inpatients who had an ICT performed in our institution. Of the 541 patients evaluated, only 233 (43%) were alleged to have a pneumonia by the treating physicians, 58 of which having a positive ICT. Among these 58 patients, 4 (7%) and 26 (45%) were treated in monotherapy by amoxicillin respectively before and after the result of the ICT (p<10(-4)). Although a positive ICT has led to a rise in the proportion of patients treated by amoxicillin alone, a large number remained treated by broader spectrum antibiotics. These results suggest that prescription monitoring of the ICT should be implemented along with a more efficient adherence to treatment guidelines.
PMID: 19845695 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]